ITALY SEEKS TO LIMIT ARMS

Press, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22103, 27 May 1937, Page 11

ITALY SEEKS TO LIMIT ARMS

, ♦ WORLD CONFERENCE SUGGESTED COLD RECEPTION FROM MR ROOSEVELT BRITAIN ALSO SAID TO BE UNSYMPATHETIC (XtHITMO FMS« ASSOCIATION —COPTBIOHT.) (Received May 26, 9.15. p.m.) WASHINGTON, May 25. An appeal by Signor Mussolini to Mr Roosevelt to call a world arms limitation conference has been received with marked coldness. Mr Roosevelt signified his unreadiness to comment by saying that he had not seen it. Other officials said it is unlikely that Mr Roosevelt will act because of advices recently received from Great Britain that she is not interested ir an arms conference and intends to proceed with her building programme. There is a definite understanding here that Great Britain will not agree to participate until her rearmament is completed. Britain indicated that she is not only committed to her programme in policy, but has also made financial commitments. The impression is held in some diplomatic circles that Signor Mussolini is hopeful of a limitation of arms in order to curtail British rearmament, which he largely stimulated by the conquest of Abyssinia. In such circumstances, diplomats are convinced that Great Britain will not consent to a conference. Officials expressed the view that the United States will not move for a world conference on economic or any other important subjects until the Imperial Conference concludes and Britain determines her attitude toward such questions.